Apparatus for cleaning waste pipes of sinks, etc.



Sept. 1, 1931. c. J. B; BoRGEsoN 1,821,739

APPARATUS FOR CLEANQING WASTE PIPES OF SINKS, ETC

Filed March '7. 1931 Patented Sept. 1, 193

CHARLES J'. B. BOBGESON, OFB'YZRACUSE, NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR CLEANINGvWASTE PIPES OF SI'NKS, ETC.

Application filed Maren 7,

This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning waste pipesy of sin-ks, closet bowls and analogous fixtures and is adapted to v"be connected to a water faucet or otherk avail-y able source of fluid supply under pressure projected through the wastepipe, together with a solvent or other detergent fory removing solid matter which may tend to collect on the inner surfaces of the Apipe or other fixture. A

It is well-'known that many of these outlets and waste pipes leading from sinks, .toilet bowls1 aud the like, frequently become more or less clogged with grease, lint, 'lime and other solid contents in the water or .other fluid passing through the pipes, and vthat in many instances, powerful solvents are required to remove these solids and allow them to be llushed from the pipes by water or other j tluid under pressure. Many of these powerful solvents are manufactured and sold in crystal or powdered form and are put up in liermetically sealed cans of conveniently portable sine for household use to protect the moisture and also to prevent the escape of gases and other fumes which are moreor less poisonous, or'at least irritating when coming in contact with the skin or flesh of `the user.

The main `object of the present invention is to provide simple and yefficient means whereby the contents of these cans, Vtogether with a stream of water or other suitable fluid, may be projected simultaneously into a'drainage youtlet or waste pipe with a minimum consumption of time and labor 'and with-'- out liability of any of the fumes or poisonous gases of the solvent escaping into the room` yor coming in contact with any ofthe physical elements or clothing of the usera Another object is to render the device applicable for use in connection with drain-A age outlets of various sizes and of diiferent fixtures. s

A further object is to provide the device with a mixing chamber communicating with' the interior of the can and with a source of water supply, both leading to a. common outlet extension which, when applied to the outlet or pipe to form a fluid-tight joint 1931.V serial No. 520,990.

phere.

Other objects and uses relating to specic i parts ofthe apparatus, will Ibe brought 'out inthe following description In the drawings p Figure l is a vertical lsectional view, partly in elevation, of an apparatus embodying the various features of my invention, and including'a portion of a drainage outlet and pipe to whichthe apparatus is attached and also showing a water 'supply pipe, partly broken away, connected to an ordinary water faucet.y f

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the Vsame apparatus, taken in the plane of line 2 2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged :horizontal sectional View taken in the plane of .line 3 3, Figure l. Figure 4 is -a sectional view, partly 'broken away, of an attachment adapted to be used same against contact with external air and with the apparatus shown in Figures l and '2 for supplying the solvent mixture to fixtures more supply. l

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view of another attachment adapted -to be used with the same apparatus for directing the mixture into the drainage outlets of toiletbowls and the like.'

or less remote from the source of As illustrated, this apparatus comprises a l valve case --l-, having its'upper end enlaro'ed and provided with :a mixing chamber p2- which is preferably conical or hoppershaped, one side of :the enlarged upper end of the'valve lcase being provided with a radi- -ally projecting inlet nipple -3- to which is o connected one vend of Aa flexible pipe -or hose -4- having its .other end connected to an ordinary water faucet -5-, or other source A of 'fluid supply under pressure.

The lower reduced portion of the valve case -l forms what may be termed an outlet nipple or extension -6- having an opening therethrough connected with the mixing o Y ma `Chamber -2 through the medium of a port 7H Ywhich is controlled by a valve -8 shown more clearly in Figures l and 2.

A screen or similar apertured plate -9, is seated in a suitable annular recess in the apex of the mixing chamber -.2- closely adjacent the port -7- and just above the valve -8- to allow the mixture to pass' from the mixing chamber -2- through the outlet opening in the nipple -6- when the valve --8- is opened.

The valve -8- is provided with an upwardly projecting stem -10 having its upper end provided with a shoulder -lifor engaging the upper end of a spring -12- having its lower end normally resting upon the plate -9-5 for yieldingly holding the valve -8- in its closed position.Y That is, the valve -S- closes against its seat by up'- ward movement, due to the action of the spring -12- which is of sui'iicient tension to overcome the weight of the valve E5- and its stem -lG-, but on the other hand, is suiiiciently light to allow the valve te be automatically opened by the pressure of the water and solvent in the mixing chamber -2-.

The lower end of the outlet nipple -6- is provided with an internally threaded socket l3, some distance below the valve -8- for receiving the upper externally threaded end of a coupling -llhaving an annular flange -15-u adapted to abut tightly against the lower end of the outlet nipple (3- when the coupling member -14- is screwed in place upon said nipple.

This coupling member #letis provided with a central lengthwise opening theren through, communicating with the opening in the outlet nipple -6, said coupling having its lower end reduced in diameter for receiving a sleeve 16- of resilient material such as soft rubber, cork or equivalent substance, the outer surface of the sleeve -16- being frusto-conical'or tapered from the top downwardly so as to it snugly within the outlet opening of a drainage `pipe or conduit A- when the apparatus is applied to the drainage outlet or pipe as shown in Figure 1.

The upper enlarged end of the valve case -lis provided with diametrically opposite radial sockets -l7- for receiving a pair of anchor pins 1S- projecting radially from the periphery of the valve case and upon which is mounted the lower ends of an in verted U-shaped yoke 2lwhich extends upwardly from the valve case a. distance 'somewhat greater than the height of the can, as -B-, containing the solvent .or other refuse-disintegrating material.

The enlarged end of the valve case -1- is provided in its upper end with ay relatively shallow annular socket -19- of somewhat greater diameter thanl the can -B- forre ceiving and supporting a packing ring -20- of rubber or other suitable alkali-resisting material, said packing ring or gasket being of suilicient thickness to project slightly above the annular flange surrounding the socket -19- to allow the adjacent end of the can to rest firmly thereon without contact with the metal valve case.

Suitable means is provided for firmly clamping the then opened inner or lower end of the can -B- against the packing ring -20-, and for this purpose, the upper cross bar of the U-shaped yoke 2l-F is provided with a central threaded aperture -2ladapted to be engaged by a hand-operated screw "Q2- which extends some distance above and below the cross bar of the yoke and has its upper end provided with a handle 2g-by which it may be turned in the threaded socket-opening -2l-.

The lower end of the screw -22- is swiv eled at 2.3- tO the central portion of a follower plate .-24- which is adapted to engage the outer or upper end of the can as shown in Figures l and 2.

ylhe diametrically opposite sides of the follower plate #2liare provided with recesses #Q5- for receiving the adjacent arms of the yoke 2lto hold the follower against relativerotary movement while the same is being tightened upon and released from the adjacent end of the can -B-.

The outlet nipple -6- is provided with an additional inlet #2G- for receiving fluid under pressure, said inlet being located between the. valve -8- and coupling member -14-- A suitable valve d2T of the conventional tire-valve type is secured to the side of the outlet nipple G- adjacent the inlet opening -26- to communicate therewith and is adapted to be connected to any conventional form of booster for projecting air or liquid into the waste pipe below the valve -8- under abnormally high pressure to assist in dislodging any solids which may tend to accumulate in said outlet.

A screen or foraminous plate #28- is placed within the mixing chamber e2- to extend across the entire area of the upper end thereof for preventing excessive precipitation ofthe crystals 0r powder from the can -B- into said chamber, but at the same time, allowing a gradual drop of said crystals or powder into the mixing chamber, particularly when partially dissolved by contact with the water or other liquid entering said chamber through the supply pipe Ll- In Figure Ll is shown an attachment for the valve case -lshown in Figures l and 2 and consisting of a iiexible hose -29 having one end telescopically fitted upon the reduced end of Vthe coupling member 11iand its other end telescopically fitted upon the reduced end of a coupling nipple -30- having an internally threaded socket 3lsimilar to the threaded socket #13d in the nipple -G- of the valve case 1- for receiving'the reduced threaded end of a cou x pling '30- and plug -32-'is also simil()Y lar to the threaded` connections between the nipple ti-and coupling '-la-A- shown in Figures l and 2 so that the plug -.-32- with its gasket 7 33-4 maybe removed from the Y coupling Q30-rand applied directlyto' the f interchanged therewith. however, that'the coupling -35- is pronipple -G if desired'. Y I 1 The iiexible hose 2Q- may be of any practicable length to enable the plug -32 to be used in the outlets of sinks or ltoilet bowls more or. less remote from' thevalve case l; that is, the'coupling +14- with the gasket *16- thereonv may be removed from the nipple -6- and replaced by the! coupling -l4l on Vthe upper end Vot' the in is then restored to its upright position with iiexible hose -29- carrying the parts -.32- and 33'- or use in cleansinglarger drainage outlets. t

In Figure 5 is shown `what is commonly known as a vacuum cup '-34 "having ametallic reinforcement NSG'-, both ofwhich are secured to a coupling -35 having a reduced threaded upper end similar to the threaded upper end ofthe coupling lll-- shown in Figures lV andQ so that it may be t will be observed,

vided with a reducedyexternally threaded lower-'end -35- for receiving a nut'-36- between which and the flange ;-l5*v is Aclamped the'adjacent portion of the vacuum t. cup 434- and reinforcement -f-r', the cup *34*- Vbeing preferably made of soft rubber Yor equivalent material to fit snugly against the iixture around the drainage out- The can -B- is kpreferablyof a conventional type made of tin or other suitable material and has one orvboth ends provided with 'removable closuresor, at least capable of being' easily or quickly opened to allow the contents to be displaced therefronn the closure of one endet' the can shown in Figures "l and 2 being shown as removed.

n Operation When it is desired to use the apparatus for cleansing a drainage outlet orplpeythe can containing the solvent is placed in an upright Y position upon any suitable sup/port and its upper end is then opened by any suitable instrument leaving the marginal walls of the opening in their original smooth iat plane.

Immediately following the opening of the can the apparatus, unattached to either the faucet h5- or drainage outlet -A-, is held by hand or otherwise in an inverted position in substantially horizontal parallel planes.

The follower 24- will havebeen preterably adjusted by the lscrew -22- Va sufficient distance from thegasket --20ftoperinit p l the can to be placed in the intervening space with-site closed lower endresting upon the follower audits open` upper end yfacing the gasket *20- in which position the can will be substantially cov-axial with the screw -22-Y and outlet of the valve case 1 with the .rim of itsopen end in position to engage said gasket at all points throughout iitscircumierence. i -f ,l c v The'screw *22% and its follower --24.-y are thenadj usted to firmly clamp the can endwise betweenthe follower-@4 and gasket 20eto form a liquid and gas tight joint beltween the open end-of the can and valve case' -,1., itbeing understood that the openend ofthe can will their register with the mixing chamber-2f 'Y t i t i The apparatus with the can clamped therethe outlet nipple V-6- at the bottm and the open end ot' the can `facing downwardly;y Under these conditions the contents as Z2- of the can -B- will -be temporarily held.A against, undue downward .displacement byy Y opened by the water under. pressure admitted through the inlet -3-. l Y

The hose or pipe --l4 which has been pre- Y viouvsly connected to the inlet +3 is then` .attached to the faucet -5- or other source of water supply while'the faucet still remains closed, after which the coupling 1liand its packing -16- constituting f a plug is tightlyiitted in the mouth of the drainage outlet -QA- to form a liquidfand gas tight joint therewith.' 1

The faucet -,-5-` maythen be opened to -v i allow the water toflow into the mixing chamber-2V to Contact with the contents ofthe can '-v-B'fthrough the screen -Q8-, thereby causing kaniixture ofthe water and solvent l contents of the can in Y loer -*-2-. f

vthe mixing cham-V l The Water pressure admitted to the mii@l y'ing chamber is suliicient to open the valve -S-f against the action of its spring l2- to allow the mixture to liowfunder pressurer from the mixing chamber`2 through the outlet of the valve case and thence into the drainage outlet k-A- for eiecting a thorough cleansing of any solids which may have accumulated in the drainage outlet or pipe leading therefrom.

It will befobs'erved thatduring this discharge of the mixturer from the mixing j chamber -2-"into the drainage outlet,` all joints between said outlet and open'end of the can will be 'tightly closed to prevent the escape of any fumes or gases, resulting from vthe dissolution ofthe contents of the can -B-, into the room in which the apparatus is used. f

In case the water pressure trom the faucet and solvent liberated from the container into the drainage outlet is insuliicient to dislodge any solids which may have accumulated within the outlet, a source of air or liquid supply under relatively higher pressure than that from the faucet may be connected to the supplemental valve -27- to act as a booster for projecting said air or liquid into the outlet to further, assist the solvent in disintegrating and removing such solid, itbeing understood that when .the booster pressure is removed from the valve, the latter will be closed automatically by the check valve (not shown) contained therein, thereby preventing the escape of gases or liquid through such supple mental inlet under normal operation of the apparatus;

lil

The operation of libe ating and projecting the solvent and water through the d ainage outlet mayv be` continued until the can is wholly or partly emptied, depending upon the effect of the mixture upon the accumulaf tions within the drainage outlet.

When the operation is finished, the valve of the faucet -5- may be closed and the hose -4 disconnected therefrom, at which time the apparatus may be removed from the out let and reinverted and the screw *m22* and 4`fluid inlet to a source of fluid supply under pressure, means rfor attaching tho outlet oit the valve case to the drainage outlet to` be cleansed, and a valve controlling the passage of the mixture from the mixing chamber to 'the outlet of the valve case. j

2. An apparatus tor 'cleansing the drainage outlets of sinks, toilet bowls and the like, comprising a valve case having a mixing chamber provided with a fluid inlet and an outlet, said mixing chamber being also provided with an inlet for receiving a solvent adapted to mix with the fluid in the mixing chamber so that the mixture may be discharged through the outlet, means tor attachH `ing the fluid inlet to a source of fluid supply under pressure, means for attaching the outlet of the valve case to the drainage outlet to be cleansed, and a self-closing valve controlling the passage of the mixture from the mixing chamber to the outlet and adapted to be opened in the direction' of said outlet by pressure of the fluid in the mixing chamber.

3. An apparatus for cleaning drainage outlets as in claim l, in which the outlet of the valve case is provided Ywith a supplemental inlet for connection with a source of fluid )ressure relatively greater than that in the inlet `leading to the mixing chamber.

4. An apparatus for cleaning drainage outlets as in claim l, in which a conduit is releasably connected to the outlet of the valve case and provided with a resilient gasket adapted to close the drainage outlet. p

5. An apparatus for cleaning drainage outlets as in claim 1, in which a screen partition is extended across the solvent inlet of the valve case.

6. An apparatus for cleansing drainage outlets as in claim l, in which the end of the valve case having the solvent inlet is provided with a seat surrounding said solvent inlet and against which the open end ont the can containing the solvent is adapted to rest.

7. An apparatus for cleansing drainage outlets as in claim l, in which the end of the valve case having the solvent inlet is provided l with a seat surrounding said solvent inlet and against which the open end of the can containing the solvent is adapted to rest, and means attached to the valve case for forcing the can against its seat.

8. In an apparatus for cleansing the drainage outlets of sinks, toilet bowls and the like, the combination with a valve case having a mixing chamber provided with a fluid inlet and an outlet, said mixing chamber having an inlet inone end for receiving a solvent to mix with the inflowing fluid, means for attaching the outlet of the valve case to the drainage outlet to form a liquid and gas tight connection therewith, means tor connecting the fluidinlet of the valve case toa source of fluid supply under pressure, a gasket mounted on the first-named end of the valve case to surround the solvent inlet and to torm va seatfor the open end of a solvent-contain ing can, and means mounted on thc valve case for forcing the open vend or" the can against the gasket to 'form a and liquid tight joint therewith.

In witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand this 26th day ot' February, 1931.

CHARLES J. B. BORGESON. 

